Events

Midwinter Meeting Report

Our Mid-Winter Board Meetings in Curacao are completed and we are in Trinidad for 3 days, Suriname for 2 days and then 3 days in French Guyana for their DCM.  We will arrive home Monday evening February 4th before heading to Jamaica on the February 8th.

The attendance in Curacao was fantastic  with 117 Lt. Governors & Partners, District Chairs, Club Officers, Past Officers, Members plus Curacao Members.  It was fun and informative.

We began Sunday evening with a welcome drink by the pool and dinner.  LG Division 5E Peter Tudisco was thanked for his work organizing the flight and tickets for the Eastern Canada Members.  Well done Peter.

Monday Morning began with a special presentation to Lynn Prescott to celebrate her 39th Birthday.  Three buses took us on our 4 hour Island Tour organized by PLG Anthony Haile with Curacao Kiwanis Members as our Guides. 

The Curacao Members were great hosts and provided everyone with informative information about their island.  Well done PLG Anthony.

• All Service Leadership Members are now Kiwanians, for example “the Kiwanis Key Club, the Kiwanis Builders Club etc .” This increases our Kiwanis Family size to just fewer than 600,000 Kiwanis Members,
• New Builders Clubs fee schedule is being prepare by Kiwanis International, Confirmation coming soon.   
• Concern was expressed on shipping material from KI via Courier when mail would be sufficient.  The cost being incurred by clubs is very high.
• The Mid-Winter Board Meeting is open to all Kiwanians who wish to attend. This information was new to many LG and the others attending.            

Wednesday Morning was the LT. Governors’ 1 hour session with DGH Bill Stuart, Chair of Education and Training.  He asked for input on additional information that should be added to the LGE Training Program.

The remainder of the morning was an open education session for everyone in attendance on Kiwanis Education with a question and answer period.  It was informative and well received.  Thanks DGH Bill and DLG Jim Steele for this extra effort.

Wednesday Evening approximately 150 E. C. & C. Members and Guests enjoyed an Inter-Club organized and lead by the Curacao Kiwanis Clubs.  The Guest Speaker was a Doctor who spoke on Prostrate Cancer and the importance of paying attention to check-ups.  At the meeting our Kiwanis Family donated $950.00 for the Curacao Club’s Food Program.  Before the evening ended it had increased to $1,250.00. 

This was most heart warming and very generous of everyone in attendance.  Both LG Peter Tudisco and PLG Anthony Haile  were presented with special gifts  for their effort in assisting with the organization of the week’s activities. 

Thanks again to the Curacao Club Members for organizing this evening. (Special thanks to Curacao Kiwanian Member “K-Pim” for assisting in obtaining travel Visas for Suriname.)

Thursday Morning was the Partner and Guest Trip to the Siloam Christian Children’s Hospice for Chronically ill Children (Aids, Cancer, Heart Defects etc.) ages 0 to 13.

The bus arrived at 9:00 A.M. to take 26 of us to the Hospice with our supply of donated diapers, New VCR, Children’s Cartoon DVDs and cash donations of $300.00.  Bep & Herman Gijsbers, volunteers, run this Hospice without government support.  Father Herman provided a talk about the residents and the home and we toured the facility. 

It was most heart warming for those who were in attendance.  Thank you to everyone who contributed to this worthy project.

Special Thanks to PLG Anthony Haile, former First Ladies Debbie Button, Faye Stuart and PG Joanne Murray and Kiwanian Barb Thamer for assisting me with the Partners Program.  It was very much appreciated. 

– Dorothy

Thursday and Friday was our Board’s Business Meetings and the following are some of the hi-lights of our  accomplishments:

• Lt. Governors were provided the opportunity to talk on any subject they wished to share with the Board for a 5 minute period.  Several reports provided ideas for thought by other Lt. Governors.
  
  
• Finance Chair Bob Johnson provided an update of our 2006-2007 year end financial status and advised the Board that the Audit was almost completed.  He also provided an update on the financial picture for 2007-2008 with everything currently on target.  Late payment of dues for 2006-2007 and some 2007-2008 by clubs was a concern and the DST is following up on this matter.
  
  
• DST Madelane Riley provided a written and verbal report to the board on the first quarter.  She has been successful in putting into place suggested administrative changes and is working closely with Administrator Lise Pichette.
  
  
• GE Sheron Cameron Dunn provided an update on the Service Leadership Programs and reported that all SLP Administrators have been re-appointed for 2008-2009 with the only change being the Eastern Canada Builders Club Chair, Rick Brooks, who stepped down as Administrator.  The New Eastern Canada Builders/KKids Chair for the remaining part of this year and 2008-2009 is Kiwanian Susan Davies from the Owen Sound Kiwanis Club. Governor provided his approval to KI for Susan Davies appointment and a thank you to PLG Gary Levine for his recommendation of Susan to this position.
  
  
• Key Leader Chair Jim McIntosh provided a report on the Key Leader Program which took place in Ontario November 2007.  For the first time the program was fully booked with several late registrations unable to attend.  We are now looking at two programs in Ontario; 1 in the Maritimes headed up by PIP Glen Bagnell and Key Club Assistant Administrator Ted Bulley; 1 in Jamaica with DLG Hope Markes who was in attendance to see first hand the program; and a French Program in Quebec with a site already identified.  LG Peter Tudisco was the Site Coordinator for 2007.  Great Job LG Jim McIntosh.
  
  
• PG Joanne Murray, Chair of the HIV/AIDS UNICEF Kiwanis Partnership Program, provided an excellent presentation on the committee’s recommended 3 year program.  Questions were answered from the Board of Trustees by Chair PG Joanne Murray and Vice Chair PG Dr. John Button.  A CD presentation will be forwarded to ALL LGs so they can provide this information to their Division Kiwanis Members.  ALL LGs are requested to report back to PG Joanne with their club Member comments before May 1, 2008.   
  
  The HIV/AIDS Kiwanis UNICEF Partnership Proposal will be presented to the House of Delegates in Niagara Falls for their approval.  The Board of Trustees, with 100% support, recommended the program for submission to the Kiwanis Clubs and the House of Delegates in Niagara Falls.
  
  
• PNW International Trustee, Sylvester Neal, who is a candidate for International Vice President in Orlando, outlined his election platform.
  
  
• Chair, Policy Procedure and Bylaws, DLG Jim Steele, provided his presentation on the Policy and Procedure changes the committee feels are necessary to bring our Policies and Procedures up to date.  The Board of Trustees were provided with suggested changes and expressed their agreement or disagreement on the suggested changes so the committee can now move forward and have the necessary changes made. 
  
  The final document will be ready for approval by the Board in Niagara Falls in August.  If approved, this will take effect October 1, 2008.  Great Job DLG Jim Steele.
  
  

• The Board of Trustees and Guests were provided with two 10 minute presentations by PG Joanne Murray and PG Dr. John Button who are both running for the International Trustee position in Region 2 which will be voted on at our District Convention in Niagara Falls and begin October 1, 2009 for a term of 3 years (September 30, 2011).
  
  

• The Board of Trustees and Guests were provided a 5 minute presentation by PLG Gary Levine who is currently the only candidate running for Governor Elect at our District Convention in Niagara Falls.  The Governor allowed PLG Gary an additional 7 minutes as he entertained those in attendance with his Johnny Carson routine of humour. 
  
  Gary, you have missed your calling.
  
  
• The Convention Committee Chair DDSTH Germaine Barr and Vice Chair, PLG Serge Viau, provided an excellent presentation on trying a joint convention with Kiwanis International.  In short, we would have our convention 3 days prior to the International Convention at their site, we would utilize some of their forum sessions offered to Kiwanians, and everyone could attend 2 conventions at the same time.  This would only require one flight.  This will be a test at the Los Vegas Convention in 2010. 
  
  All information will be provided to Kiwanis Clubs through their Lt. Governors and will require the House of Delegates approval in Niagara Falls.  Kiwanis International has approved our request for a joint convention in 2010 provided our House of Delegates in Niagara Falls approves.    Wait until you receive the information before making your decision.  It really is exciting. 
  
  Great Job to Germaine, Serge and the Convention Committee.
  
  
• Lt. Governors, Ernest Marshall (27S) and Derek Angol (27N) presented a Resolution approved by ALL Kiwanis Clubs at their DCM that effective October 1, 2008 the two Divisions become one and be called Division 27.  They also advised the Board an election took place and they have a Lt. Governor for 2008-2009 Andre Gaubron (from Martinique), Lt. Governor Elect for 2008-2009 E. Griffith Joseph (from Antigua) and Lt. Governor Elect for 2009-2010 Louis Sealy (from Barbados).  Governor Chuck was in attendance for the DCM Meeting in Barbados.  Great Job LG Ernest and LG Derek.   

Friday evening’s “Kiwanis Have Talent Night” was enjoyed by everyone in attendance  - from a play, several singing groups, an actual “Bimbo” trying to join a Kiwanis Club, a Child’s singing message and closing with a very sexy dancer who later invited everyone up on the dance floor.  I do not believe I have ever heard and seen so much laughter by Kiwanians in my 26 years as a member. 

Thank you Judges  GE Sheron, LG John Hamilton & IPG Ed.  A special thank you to our Master of Ceremony, all the way from Gander Newfoundland, “Uncle Mose” best known to all of his Kiwanis Family as LG Lloyd White.

Saturday was a free day for everyone to relax and get ready to return back to reality on Sunday.  Saturday evening many gathered together in the dining area to enjoy dinner together and the fellowship that was always present.

Sunday Morning we gathered for a Non-denominational Church Service.  The singing could be heard all around the resort.  The Sermon by LG Bill Downham, readings by LG Eugennie Simpson and LG Gloria Boodoo added to this very warm and personal fellowship moment by our Kiwanis Family and Guests.  Thank you LG Bill, LG Eugennie and LG Gloria for your participation.

The buses began to arrive at 10:00 A.M. and we began our goodbyes to each other with the knowledge we will all be meeting again in Orlando or Niagara Falls or both to pick-up where we left off with our warm feeling of fellowship.

We are so very proud to be members of Kiwanis – Governor Chuck & Dorothy